One of the great things about drama is that it makes you feel like you're not a crackpot, and that there are other people who think and feel the way you do.

When you're dealing with killing people and things that are upsetting, that can be a delicate place to occupy yourself for a day.

We start off wearing frilly shirts and britches and being good guys and the heroes. And then as time goes on, every English actor ends up playing bad guys. That's what we do.

I think the James Bond thing has sailed. But of course I would want to be a Bond villain. They are great parts. I think it's highly unlikely, but one can always dream.

Somebody doing something effortlessly is a lovely thing to watch.

Im not a big fan of patterns. I like the unexpected.

One of the great things about being an actor is that you have a completely different challenge every few months.

Actors are their own worst enemies. They quite often will get in their own way, and I have to be encouraged, endlessly, not to get in my own way.

Ring tones are just irritating, aren't they?

I think the older I get, the less I should be doing.

I don't have much time for real violence at all. I think there are infinitely better ways of changing the world than using violence. Sitting round a table talking is a pretty good start.

A single-minded purpose gives sacred strength to achieve the dream.

If people are making fun of you, then you're probably doing something right.

Time perfects all living beings as well as kills them; it alone is awake when all others are asleep. Time is insurmountable.

I often lose myself in the Sudoku-like challenges of making a book work.

You make us look bad', complained Toad. 'You looked bad before I ever met you', Jon told him.

Every ethnic group thinks they are the chosen ones.

Reading and writing, arithmetic and grammar do not constitute education, any more than a knife, fork and spoon constitute a dinner.

In the never-ending battle between order and chaos, clutter sides with chaos every time. Anything that you possess that does not add to your life or your happiness eventually becomes a burden.

To me everything is fun. I've started Twittering or tweeting recently and that's been fun.

He who has suffered you to impose on him knows you.